POLLIES URGED TO PLAY NICE
ROSCO Jessop is fed up with Townsville politicians using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to argue.
The owner of the Rollingstone General Store and Post Office has taken issue with the State Government, which he said had not helped small businesses enough amid trying times.
Mr Jessop said there were so many people struggling with lockdowns, and losing business, this was not the time for politicians on both sides of the fence to play games, with a letter to the Townsville Bulletin from Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper ruffling his feathers.
Touting the great work of the State Government during the pandemic, Mr Harper challenged Phillip Thompson to match or double the small business grants and said the Federal MP had been missing in action.
But Mr Jessop said the Jobkeeper grant was one of the only reasons his business was still operating.
“(My business) has gone from a milliondollar turnover to probably a quarter of that,” Mr Jessop said. “(It) has meant not only has my business survived, but I’ve been able to keep my employees.”
Mr Jessop said he understood the State Government’s small business grants were finite, with only a small fraction of small businesses in the state receiving grants.
“The scheme was advertised, but when small businesses tried to access either of those schemes, we found they were closed,” he said.
But Mr Harper said the State Government was doing everything it could to help businesses and there was a range of support for businesses in Queensland.
“This includes payroll tax relief, energy rebates and the Jobs Support Loan Scheme,” Mr Harper said.
“In a positive for businesses, today the Premier approved a hardship payment for casual workers who test positive to COVID.
“For casuals not covered by the Federal Government’s Jobkeeper program they will be eligible for a one-off $1500 payment from the Palaszczuk Government.”